Chapter 209 - 209: Embarrassing Little Aunt
Gu Zi and Su Shen could hear the commotion from a distance, and as they approached, they witnessed a robust woman, larger than life, pointing and scolding Lin Cheng and his family. Her demeanor was undeniably unseemly.
During her time in Daqing Village, she had heard a fair share of gossip. She had deliberately inquired about the original owner’s family.
The second brother was honest, kind, and loyal, and his wife never contested or contended. When the family property was divided, they received a patch of barren land. Nevertheless, the couple was incredibly filial to their elderly mother, bearing no grievances.
The youngest brother was timid and subservient—always catering to his mother before marriage and to his wife afterward. His wife was renowned for taking advantage of situations, particularly Lin Lao’er’s family. In her youth, she had been envious of Lin Lao’er’s wife’s beauty and had always been one to take advantage of Lin Lao’er’s family.
Gu Zi felt that this was a family matter. Today was about the formalities of engagement for Su Shen. She didn’t want him involved in these troublesome affairs. She said to Su Shen, “Go back and wait with the others under the tree. I’ll handle this, and then we can proceed.”
Adorned in a white blouse and flared jeans, her demurely coiled hair gave her an air of grace and beauty, even in the midst of the situation.
When she spoke, her determination was evident. Su Shen couldn’t help but notice a glint of strength in her, and he chuckled, “Seems like I’ll need to hide behind you in the future and be the man behind your shadow.”
Gu Zi did not expect Su Shen to joke. She paused for a moment before responding with a smile, “Not that I want to show off, but I believe today is a special day, and I can’t let you down. I must rid ourselves of these unsettling distractions.”
She didn’t fear that her actions might hurt his pride. A man’s pride came from within himself, not from a woman’s acceptance.
A man who couldn’t stand beside a woman in certain situations wasn’t genuinely strong; it was, in fact, a manifestation of inferiority.
Su Shen wanted to say that these people couldn’t affect his mood, but seeing the woman taking care of him like this, he felt genuinely touched and reluctantly agreed.
He turned and gestured to the group a short distance away, signaling them to halt. The entourage bearing the betrothal gifts stopped under the big tree. They all needed a break; the sheer magnitude of the gifts made them feel like they were in an aristocratic family’s wedding from decades ago.
Logically, a procession this grand should have caught the attention of onlookers, yet everyone was so engrossed in the commotion at Lin’s residence that they paid no attention to what was happening a short distance away.
Gu Zi walked up to the crowd alone, casting a nonchalant glance at Lin Laoyao’s wife. She asked Mother Lin with a composed demeanor, “Mom, why is there so much excitement today?”
At the same time, Gu Zi could feel her aunt’s gaze starting to scrutinize her, but she didn’t bother to return the stare and instead remained unperturbed.
Before Mother Lin could say anything, Lin Laoyao’s wife interrupted, “Ah, so this is my niece from Second Brother’s family. I’m your aunt-in-law, and this is your uncle. How can relatives not know each other?”
When Gu Zi heard this, she pretended to be confused and said, “Oh, so it’s Little Uncle and Little Aunt. Mother told me long ago that Little Uncle and Little Aunt are the best. I didn’t expect you to come visit before I had a chance to pay my respects. It makes me seem rude. Mom, we can’t accept the gifts from Little Uncle and Little Aunt. Let’s ask them to take them back.”
Since Lin Lao’er and his wife had found their biological daughter, it was normal to expect the Little Uncle and Aunt to come and show their concern. They should bring some gifts as well.
Gu Zi knew very well that they hadn’t brought anything and weren’t really there to visit her. Still, she intentionally phrased her words in such a way that implied they were being shameless, which made it more interesting than outright calling them out.
The people around couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing her words. They hadn’t expected Gu Zi, at such a young age, to be so adept at dealing with people.
Lin Laovao’s wife was known for her sharD tongue and a habit of being shameless, and there wasn’t much point in competing with her in that regard.
However, with Gu Zi taking this indirect approach, it made it difficult for her to throw a tantrum.
It took some time for Lin Laoyao’s wife to respond to Gu Zi’s statement. She finally said, “Where… where in the world do elders give gifts to younger ones? You city-raised kids don’t really understand customs.”
Mother Lin immediately stepped in to defend her daughter upon hearing such words. “Indeed, such a custom doesn’t exist in your dictionary. Your mouth has always been the only ‘custom’ you’ve adhered to. Our Little Zi has been so respectful by calling you uncle and aunt. If only she knew what you’re really here for.”
Gu Zi looked at Mother Lin and praised her mother in her heart. She had always thought that her mother had a soft personality that could be manipulated by anyone. It turned out that her mother also had a temper. That was good!
Pretending to be surprised, Gu Zi asked Mother Lin, “Mom, aren’t Little Uncle and Little Aunt here to visit me?”